Ms Freeman was responding to a 20-page letter from SNP MP Neil Gray and MSP Alex Neil, who both represent the Airdrie and Shotts constituency and want the hospital to remain at its current site.

Mr Gray and Mr Neil both welcomed the announcement, and said it was "very clear that the vast majority of people in the Monklands area do not want Gartcosh as the site for the new hospital".

The NHS Lanarkshire consultation on the replacement or refurbishment of the hospital closed in October, with a final decision on its preferred option to be made this month.

A panel of patients, staff and partners such as the Scottish Ambulance Service had previously concluded that building a new hospital in Gartcosh was the best option.

Concerns have been raised about a lack of public transport to the village - but supporters of the move argue that the new site would be close to the motorway and that other transport links would be created alongside the new hospital.

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The review has been ordered by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman

NHS Lanarkshire chairwoman Neena Mahal acknowledged that people must have confidence in the decision-making process.

She added: "We therefore welcome an independent review of the process and look forward to progressing this much-needed facility for the people of Lanarkshire as soon as possible."

Last month, Labour put forward a motion in the Scottish Parliament as part of a campaign to "keep the Monklands in Monklands".

At the time, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard argued that people in Lanarkshire "have been neither meaningfully engaged nor genuinely consulted" during the process.

'Cynical attempt'

And he accused the health board of making a "cynical attempt" to railroad through its preferred option of closing Monklands and relocating its services to Gartcosh "in the teeth of widespread public opposition".

The new hospital will provide modern health facilities and a range of specialist services for patients across Lanarkshire, as well as continuing to be the local hospital for patients living within the Monklands catchment area.

The Scottish government, which will have the final say on the proposals, has not expressed any opinion on where the new hospital should be located.

But it has said that decision on the new hospital "should take full account of the views of the patients who will be served by the new hospital, as well as other key factors such as accessibility, transport links, travel times, and the best return to the NHS in terms of patient care."